The Last Clogging Dance Class of 2007

I was in Red, from head to toes, a red wig, a red sweater, a pair of red stockings. I had a wishful thinking I could bring fortune to golden ladies clogging toastmasters wrapping myself in red at the last dance class of 2007, on the New Year Eve.

My aggressive and ambitious New Year resolutions for 2008 are:

1. Form a Toastmaster Magazine Reading Group for Young and Pretty;
2. Produce a Shakespearean Play with Toastmasters;
3. Blog 100 articles in Japanese about Toastmasters activities;
4. Hone communication and leadership skills;
5. Develop dancing and singing talents.

It won't hurt to follow the Chinese tradition to wear in Red on the New Year Day to get a good start. I am looking forward to a prolific and fruitful year of 2008.

WHQs of Golden Ladies Toastmasters

Last month, I must have visited Lydia so often that the concierges of her mansion can address my name. Many thanks went to Lydia for provide her home for golden ladies to read and to rehearse various shows. Lydia's place is like Golden Ladies' World Headquarters.

The grand masion of Lydia's is like a six star hotel. The huge bronze gate opens automatically when guests arrive. I always tend to walk taller than usual. The gorgerous bouquet of exotic flowers on the marble table in the center of the lobby, the sparkling chandelier on the high ceiling, the glistering floor are a tempting stage, I can't help imagining me clogging nimbly and skillfully on the luxious Italian marble mosaic, articulating each dance step with precision and accuracy. It is a moment of exhilaration and ecstasy. I shall take a bow when I hear a big round of applause. Then I take the elevator to Lydia's European style living room.

When Toastmaster Kanai and her husband arrived at Lydia's masion for the year end karaoke party this evening, they were so impressed that they felt delighted to be invited to a Castle in Taipei. From the facade to the interior, the details of Lydia's mansion are more than a castle. No wonder whenever Lydia offers her sweet home for Toastmaster Magazine reading gathering, all golden ladies nod their heads instantly.

Many thanks to Harry and Lydia for their generosity for golden ladies to feel at home when invited to their grand mansion. The world headquarters of golden ladies toastmasters is one of the best in essence and in spirit in the world.

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in December

Golden ladies had their second Toastmaster Magazine reading gathering in a row this month. We wished to finish reading the December issue before the end of the year. Trini selected "four" articles for us to read, including 1. Who's your audience?; 2. Size up your audience; 3. Projecting Power on the Podium; 4. Reframing three major fears about public speaking.

Four ladies showed up for the reading gathering, Trini and I remained till the last minute (Lydia and Irene left early to prepare for the following karaoke party of 20 people). Trini and I even read beyond the assigned four. I recommended Trini to watch Al Gore's Oscar wining movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and to read Past District 45 Governor Carl Duivenvoodern's inspiring article about his front row seat at the world's most famous multimedia presentation. "An Inconvenient Truth" is the most powerful presentation I've even seen in my life. Every word in Gore's presentation touched upon my heart. I sincerely hope Gore can receive the Golden Gavel Award from Toastmasters International 2008.

The intimidating year end reading gathering was followed by a grand Karaoke party at Lydia's place. International Director George Yen and his lovely wife Jorie, Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Educational Marian Hsiao and her loyal husband, and many D67 dignitaries were on the invitation list. Six golden ladies dressed up for the fun and entertaining evening. We drank, ate, danced, and fought for microphone without knowing how fast time flied.

Before the year end party came to an end, Toastmaster Rikuko Kanai was so happy to be among the passionate Taiwanese toastmasters family members, she announced she would join us as a member. The karaoke party started before 7 and ended after 11. The five hours straight party was the best new year gift to all participants. Thank you, Harry and Lydia for your hospitality and kindness to bring together toastmasters from different corners. Wish every toastmaster a happy, prosperous and fruitful 2008!

The Grand Hotel

Toastmaster Kanai Rikuko, President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club 2004-2005, flew to Taipei from Kyoto with her husband Nobu for four days vacation this afternoon. As the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club, I am happy that I can say goodbye to year 2007 and welcome year 2008 with my fellow toastmaster member and her family together.

Two years ago, Rikuko invited Nobu to Taipei for the first time for Christmas holidays. The lovely couple loved Taipei so much that they came back for the new year holidays this year. As they've planned this trip for more than six months, I decided to put on my best shoes to spend their first evening in Taipei doing something extraordinary and unforgettable.

Nobu was pleased to walk along Chung-shan North Road with two beautiful toastmasters in his arms. After a sumptuous dinner at Taipei Story House next to the Taipei Metropolitan Gallery, the singer of the house band looked at our fancy outfits and asked us if we had any requests. I took off my bodylength black satin overcoat and showed off a strapless black velvet evening gown while asking for a chacha. No sooner than later, Rikuko and Nobu, the veteran ballroom dancers, deomonstrated an impromptu chacha in the garden. We received a surprising round of applause from the band and customers at the Landis Restaurant. The singer wished us a happy new year while we left Taipei Story House.

As a senior member and also the Past President of Grand Toastmasters Club, I thought there would be no better place than Grand Hotel to welcome Rikuko and Nobu back to Taipei. Harry Fang, Taiwan Council Governor 1999-2000, joined us for a drink at the piano bar on the first floor. When Harry and Lydia, Nobu and Rikuko took to the floor, they wowed the entire bar. Trini and I enjoyed watching them move their bodies to the music elegantly and skillfully.

It was an awesome evening of toastmasters gathering. I am happy Taiwanese and Japanese toastmasters are getting closer and closer. I hope there are more exchange activities between District 67 and District 76 in the years to come. When Language is no more a problem, distance is no more an issue, we proud toastmasters are making our world a better place for all.

髮膠情人夢

「髮膠情人夢」的表演終於圓滿結束，大夥兒總算鬆了一口氣。想當初幾個月前黃金女郎籌劃在C部聖誕轟趴表演的「群星會」，因為秋季大會出現類似的節目，而不得不放棄。所幸Sherry提早結束她的日本行，提出「髮膠情人夢」舞台劇的構想，她身兼編、導、演，一手策劃包辦這個節目。短短一個月之內，完成這個不可能的任務。她的才藝實在叫人佩服的五體投地。

每位表演者也都各展才華。Irene的演出令人驚艷，能唱、能跳、能演。一開場就成了所有目光的焦點。以她的美麗和姿色，年輕時如入演藝界鐵定是顆閃亮的大星星。

Kate和我的舞蹈動作，則以我爵士舞教室所學的舞序為基礎，再根據歌詞稍作修改。Kate的驚人學習能力，認真態度和天生的舞台魅力，是我所望塵莫及的。說到我的姊姊Leeling，就要替她拍手叫好。這是她的處女秀，以我所了解的她，當天下午的表現真是很了不起，完全不像第一次登台。至於我自己，幾年來學舞的基礎使我的舞姿線條較流暢美麗，讓台下的媽媽看的很開心。這還要謝謝Sherry提醒我邀約媽媽來看兩個女兒同台表演。

Linda的表現真的就像Trini所說的是一匹大黑馬。她一出場，整個舞台就是她的。台風及自創舞蹈、舉手頭足都能抓住全場眼光，確實是個舞台皇后。

最後Sherry的壓軸秀，黑人的裝扮創意十足。她把那個角色的自信、勇敢不與世人一般見識的不凡氣度表演的可圈可點，就像她本人一樣的與眾不同。走下舞台與觀眾一起跳舞，把氣氛帶到最高點。掌聲與歡笑聲揮去這一個月所有的辛苦與不快，心中開始計劃弄個莎士比亞劇。這就是這位才女不凡之處，真是要為她喝彩！

我們的恰恰舞是依據圓舞的舞序，有別於一般社交舞。倒也彌補了人數太少的缺憾，在短短的時間內學會並記住這些舞序，對於這群非科班出身的黃金女郎還真不易，我不能不再為大家拍拍手！By Lydia Lin

Dancing is...

Dancing is a combination of beauty and energy. It requires a lot of practice.

Last Friday, I took a half-day off from work in order to rehearse the dance for Division C Christmas Party next day. I didn't have the chance to rehearse the group dance with other golden ladies at all. It was like I was going to deliver an unprepared speech – the feeling panic, uncertain and reluctant. I kept telling myself I would be fine, a Toastmaster member should be able to take any challenge.

Lydia and I wasted no time in chatting but practice and practice. The videoclip Sherry uploaded on the YouTube greatly helped me. I learnt a part of the dance in advance. We were quite happy with the outcome of three hours sweating. We learnt the group dance and managed to complete the 2nd part of our dance.

The moment had come. Irene's smooth flow of dance and fully displayed body movement arouse the excitement from the floor. Linda's performance was full of energy. From the audience scream, you would know how she attracted the audience. How could the audience move their eyes from Lydia who showed the beauty of dance with her sophisticated technique? Sherry is the symbol of creativity, the focus of the spotlight. I memorized all steps; somehow, I felt my dance lack of power. I recalled what Lydia said while we were rehearsing. "When you sing or dance, you need to put your heart in it."

Yes, Lydia was right. Not only for singing and dancing, "heart" is important for everything. The Division C Christmas Party has driven me to take the action – to learn 'jazz' with my heart. By Kate Hsu

A Proud Taiwanese Toastmaster

It was a rainy and chilly evening when I left the demo meeting of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Toastmasters Club on March 6th, 2007. I felt warm and contented in my heart that I could do something for my country as a common civilian and as a veteran toastmaster. I wrote an article, Let's Put Taiwan on Stage, about my feelings the following day and posted it on Grand Toastmaters Club's blog. Samuel Wu, Deputy Director General of Foreign Service Institute gave me a call immediately after he read the article, and encouraged me to submit the article to MOFA News and Report. I was thrilled and flattered.

Let's Put Taiwan on Stage was accepted and published in September issue. It was the first time I received a small amount of income from writing an article on a blog and got it published, nevertheless I felt much encouraged to keep on writing to promote Taiwan and toastmasters to people around the world.

Foreign Service Institute adopts the toastmasters education program to train 40 newly recruited foreign service people at the beginning of the year. The training program lasts for six months, then the trainees will be dispatched to MOFA offices around the world. MOFA Toastmasters Club is therefore unique in its kind. It is different from odinary community clubs and corporate clubs.

MOFA toastmasters club needs the support and guidance urgently from other toastmasters clubs members to run demonstration and regular meetings. Even though MOFA Toastmasters Club's predecessors members turn over completely, the new members have excellent language proficiency and they are fast learners. I hereby solicit senior toastmasters in Taipei to visit MOFA whenever possible. Just think about it! When our foreign service people can master their communication and leadership skills in their respective fields, aren't we the proud Taiwanese toastmastes behind them?

A Merry Christmas 2007

On Christmas Eve, I made chicken soup for dinner at home. It was a silent night and a holy night for two. While all is calm and all is bright, I thanked my husband for being the No. 1 fan of me. Without his support to download the hairspray movie 2007 and rearrange the music for golden ladies toastmasters, the debut musical at Division C X'mas Party last Saturday afternoon wouldn't have been possible.

I also thanked golden ladies toastmasters for making our show happen. Irene Chen prepared CDs and played Tracy Turnblad cheerfully. Linda Tseng interpreted Velma von Tussle impeccably. Kate Hsu and Lydia Lin were the best council girls in town. All golden ladies are not only the actresses but also the directors of their individual shows. As for me, I felt big, blonde and beautiful on stage because there were many helping and clapping hands behind.

Sophia Chen, a professional make-up artist and hair stylist, visited Grand Toastmasters Club as a guest for the second time. She lent me her precious cosmetics and taught me how to become a chocolate girl the day before our show. Cecilia Lee, the better half of Harrison Lee, DTM, came to the back stage to help me put on Shu Uemura's purple and feather Eyelashes. Angela, daughter of Trini Ding, DTM, brought her laptop all the way from home to party venue solve the technical audio problems of magnifier at the last minute.

Christmas 2007 is special in many ways. I delivered a musical. I became a chocolate girl. I had dinner at home with my husband. I am a fortunate woman surrounded by friends and family. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas 2007.

Toastmasters and me!

I sat at the movie theatre by myself the following night after golden ladies decided to present HAIRSPRAY at Division C X'mas Party. I was excited because I love musicals. When the light was off, the movie was on, my body started moving with the music from the first minute to the end. I bought the CD right after I saw the movie. I was going to play Tracy Turnblad, the fat and short girl who dreamed to be a dancer on TV. I looked at myself in the mirror.., I am a slender.. Will I make it? Maybe a TRACY LOSING two thirds of her WEIGHT after a harsh diet regimen.

It took me one week to get familiar with the music and another week to memorize the lyrics. This is much more than what I've expected to learn a new song. Being a career woman, I work overtime most of the time. On top of that, I need to look after my wheelchair-ridden mother. Needless to say, there are house chores at home. With little spare time left, I choreograph the dance steps on the subway and during lunch hours. When I think of good steps in bed, I will jump to dance. I didn't want to disturb my family, so I use my imagination and creativity to dance on my mind most of the time.

It was frustrating in the first couple of weeks. I forgot the lyrics while I danced. I forgot the dance steps while I sang. When the first rehearsal arrived Monday evening, the 17th, I was totally in a black out and a failure. What an embarrassment I had. I was disappointed and upset about myself. I didn't want to fail my partners. The Christmas party is around the corner. We don't have time for extra rehearsals. What am I supposed to do?

The dress rehearsal was scheduled Wednesday night, the 19th, at Lydia's home. I must be prepared for this one and only chance. In two days, I tried my best to convert myself into a different person, a cheerful and fun loving Tracy in front of golden ladies, and I made it. I received a round of applause from my partners. I felt more assured and uplifted to open the Hairspray to impress my toastmasters fellows.

When the stage director announced, "Three, Two, One", I took to the floor, I became Tracy Turnblad. I heard the beat, that rhythm of party hall. I got my hairspray, I was actually dancing on stage. I know every step. I remember every word. I see the party lights shining ahead. Followed me, all golden ladies exerted their best efforts to put on the most exciting and entertaining Hairspray musical to the audience.

I found TOASTMASTERS SPIRITS engraved into our bodies, each of us learned COMMUNICATION by being SUPPORTIVE and COOPERATIVE. We LEARN TOGETHER & GROW TOGETHER. We grabbed the chance that Trini arranged for us and shaped ourselves. What a wonderful environment we have in Toastmasters. The Christmas 2007 is another colorful page and sweet memory to me and all GOLDEN LADIES. By Irene Chen

Division C Christmas Party 2007

Golden ladies can do anything, golden ladies dare to take challenges and develop potentials. Except pursuing intellectual delights, they cultivate different skills, too to make their lives more fun, colorful and enjoyable. Talents are in everyone's genes, the passion of dressing up and performing our talents on stage is in everyone's bones. Having performed on stage for quite a lot of times mostly doing clog dance, golden ladies tried something completely new this time, a Musical -Hairspray, for Division C Christmas Party.

The idea was first brought out by Sherry, always ahead of others in ideas. She saw the movie on her flight back from Sapporo to Taipei, was enchanted by its great tension, lively music and dramatic feature. It was not easy to make it possible in shortly one month; compiling music, character depicting, costume designing, posing, and choreographing etc… Yet, golden ladies managed to overcome the obstacles despite their busy schedule.

The program was a big success. Their performance was unexpectedly amazing and a knock-out. It amazed and opened the audience's eyes. The music was lively and cheerful, the costume was selected for the maximum stage effect and the performance was overwhelming. Everyone danced and posed self-assuredly. No one could believe they did the choreography by themselves.

Irene – The lovely and cute Tracy Turnblad
Kate and Lydia – the gracefully sexy Council Girls
Linda – the new sexy queen Velma von Tussel
Sherry – the most daring and wildest Motormouth Maybelle

What a sensational combination! I am happy that they helped enrich Division C Christmas Partys program and entertain the audience completely. Pity that I couldn't take any part in the musical due to my duty for the whole party, yet enjoying their performance and making record of it cheered me up a great deal and gave me a sense of pride, too.

Again golden ladies demonstrated they are versatile and talented. And again Golden Ladies turned a new leaf, wrote a new page for our book of life. What's next? One thing we are sure is that we will keep exploring our talents and cultivating all the possible skills for the next challenge and fun. Trini

Big, Blonde and Beautiful

Life is layers of memories. As we move a step further into the future, we unveil a shade of the myth in our past. Like peeling an onion, we get to the core when our life comes to an end. If I hadn't played the role of Motormouth Maybelle in the Hairspray Musical at Division C X'mas Party this afternoon, I wouldn't have realized my deep root in Africa.

Queen Latifah played the role of Motormouth Maybelle in the movie of Hairspray 2007. She is big, blonde and beautiful, I want to copy her to the best of my ability. After I put on dark foundation, wore a blonde wig, walked on stage, surprisingly I should see my past on wide and open savanna. The fortuneteller was right, I was an African female runner in my previous life. The long forgotten memory came back to me. I wish Albert Einstein could provide a reason for the transcendental connection to the past.

Then the good old days in New Orleans flashed back to me. I was suddenly enlightened why I chose to study at the Graduate School of University of Louisiana Medial Center. I ruminated the Creole cuisine at the French Quarter. I heard the jazz on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The Blue echoed in my ears and tears flooded in my eyes.

The older I get, the more I enjoy the stage. The collective energy from the audience uplift my spirit to a new level high. The emotions on stage always transcend me to another unknown world once I was familiar with. I feel recharged after each performance on stage. The Hairspray gave me a key to know more of my past. The dark skin is the first chapter of another huge book waiting for me to uncover. I shall keep on reading, traveling and running, one day in Africa in person, for sure! Groovy, Baby, Groovy!

Life is but a play, one act after another. While I thought I could put on a few pounds to become a real sweet chocolate girl after Division C X'mas party, I saw Tina Turner Live on TV, when I got home. After I poured myself a glass of Bourbon on the rock, I sat on the couch and watched Tina's body languages. I was totally mesmerized by her voice, movement, and beauty in early 70's. The Rock Diva of All was tall and thin and powerful. I watched her show with my eyes opened wide till midnight. I found a new role model to emulate. In my dream, I became tall, blonde and beautiful Iman Abdulmajid on the runway and I saw David Bowie waiting for me at the far end.

Speak in Music (Hairspray Flyer)

Who wants a twig, when you can climb the whole tree?

The curtain will soon be on. The audience will open their eyes. Golden ladies are putting on Hairspray at D67 Division C X'mas Party this coming Saturday afternoon. It is their first musical in public. It is meaningful for them to learn the communication and leadership skills in Music. It is challenging for them to master the melody, the rhythm, the action and the words at the same time, let alone the facial expressions, hand gestures and vocal variety.

Synopsis
In early 60's, women don't have rights, blacks are segregated, big girls are monsters. Tracy Turnblad, a white fat and short teenager who loves to dance, changes everything in Baltimore in 1962. She goes for an audition at a TV station. She walks into the black community to integrate with them. She converts the most popular TV dancing show from one Negro day a month to Negro days year around. She encourages her mother to step out of her tiny cleaning shop to embrace her size of 40.

Cast
Tracy Turnblad ... Irene Chen



Velma von Tussle ... Linda Tseng

Council Girl 1 ... Kate Hsu



Council Girl 2 ... Leeling Lin

Council Girl 3 ... Lydia Lin




Motormouth Maybelle ... Sherry Li



Ladies and Gentlemen, Golden Ladies Toastmasters present you the Hairspray!

First Show--Irene (two minutes 10 seconds)
Props: Candies, School Bag, Hairspray, Radio, Pop Hair
Voice in: Tracy, Wake up, It's 7 O'clock followed by "Good Morning Baltimore"

Second Show--Lydia & Kate (2 minutes 15 seconds)
Props: Dress, furry scarf, high-heel shoes
Voice in: Look, Who's that new girl? Followed by "The New Girl In Town"

Third Show--Linda (2 minutes)
Props: Baton
Voice in: Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome to Miss Baltimore's dance classroom followed by "Miss Baltimore Crabs"

Fourth Show--Sherry (two minutes 30 seconds)
Props: Pecan Pie, Sugar, Chocolate Swirl, Pink Lipstick, Blonde wig
Voice in: Are you all hungry for some good fun? followed by "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful"

Fifth Show--Group Dance (two minutes 42 seconds)
Voice in: Now, everybody, come dance on the floor and have fun! Followed by "The Nicest Kids in Town"

Music Off, End!

Special thanks go to Golden Lady Trini Ding, DTM, the Incumbent Division C Governor for offering us the wonderful opportunity to perform our first musical in public and to deliver our speeches in music. Golden ladies, go, go, go!

Peace Toastmasters Club's Year End Meeting

As promised, Toastmaster Watanabe brought three toastmasters friends from Tokyo to Taipei to attend Peace Toastmasters Club's year end meeting this afternoon. Frankly speaking, I wouldn't have skipped the clogging dance class this afternoon if Toastmaster Watanabe were not in Town. But, I must say it was one of the most exciting meetings I've ever attended. It was inspiring to listen to the speeches of young and old Toastmasters, Taiwanese and Japanese, especially during the Christmas season.

Toastmaster Watanabe Yoshihito came to Taiwan 8 years ago for the first time with a tour group of toastmasters members from Nagoya. In the past 8 years, Toastmaster Watanabe has invited many Japanese toastmasters to Taiwan and has contributed a lot to the development of Japanese speaking toastmasters in Taiwan. He is a precious Japanese toastmaster friend to us Taiwanese.

Friday evening, I put on Mrs. Santa Claus' Outfit to wait for Toastmaster Watanabe and his clan at the New World Hotel. After dinner at a huge teahouse in Hsi-men, we went to a nearby TGI Fridays for the second party. What could be a better place than TGI Fridays to welcome dear toastmasters friends from Japan on Fridays? We ate, drank and talked till midnight.

As usual, there is a dinner banquet in honor of VIPs from Japan after the year-end meeting. Toastmasters Murata, Agioka, Yoshimura joined the meeting and party for the first time, they became family members immediately. We ate, drank, sang, danced for two and half hours. The Karaoke machine didn't stop from the beginning till the end. I bet it was the first time the restaurant made so much fortune from a Karaoke machine. We made a record in year 2008. When toastmasters are together, the time flies on the double!

Thanks to Toastmasters Watanabe, Murata, Agioka, Yoshimura for bringing the Christmas joy to us in year 2007 and wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous year of rat!

I Have A Dream--A Christmas Party in the 60's

Golden ladies will put on "Hairspray" musical at Division C Christmas Party Saturday afternoon, the 22nd of December. Hairspray won 2007 Hollywood Film Award. The story is about Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager who wants to dance on TV in 1962. With her determination, Tracy makes it on the Corny Collins Show and changes it to an integrated one for black and white.

In 1962, I was a second grader and most golden ladies were in elmentary schools. I remember well that I opened my eyes widely in fornt of my neighbor's television in the living room when Taiwan Television (TTV) went on air. It was everything for me to watch television after school everyday. I wasn't as initiative as Tracy to take the move to go for an audition to dance on TV, but I believe, as middle-aged women, golden ladies are happy to present a show of young girls of ideas and dreams.

In a 15 minutes show, we will have "Good Morning, Baltimore", "The New Girl in Town", "Miss Baltimore Crabs", "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful", and "The Nicest Kids in Town". It is our hope to bring the good times of the 60's to our fellow toastmasters, to share the hope and spirit of the people in the 60's, and to leave a big footprint for ourselves like Neil Armstrong did for mankind on the moon on July 20th, 1969!

In fact, golden ladies have planned the show for more than two months. We thought about performing the famous "Star Gatheriing Show" of TTV of the 70's. We even finalized the songs and singers we would copy. After seeing similar show at D67 Fall Convention Party in Ta-chia in November, we decided to work on another more exciting, thrilling and inspiring one. There "Hairspray" came along. Life is really full of wonders. Everything seems to be predestinated to make the life fulfilled in the best and most reasonable sense!

If you're free Saturday afternoon, the 22nd of December. You must not miss Golden Ladies' "Hairspray". You will see the costumes of the 60's, the exaggerated hairstyles. On top of that, you shall have a good chance to dance for fun!

From Tragedy to Triumph

Sherry had been enjoying her study of TM magazine for one hour when I arrived at McDonald at 12:40. She invited all golden ladies to dress in red in order to celebrate the Christmas. In a red Chinese style jacket and a matching beret, Sherry looked so cute; somehow, the jacket might be too warm for the temperature of 21 degree Celsius.

Trini waited for us at another McDonald and spent another hour finding the way to join us at Hsin-Tien Cultural Center. She was like a nightingale chirping on the tree while she complained about her poor sense of directions. Her mouth watered when she saw the lunch box and desserts, and there was a moment of silence.

It took us only about 30 minutes to discuss the magazine. The reading efficiency explained the good preparation of the golden ladies. I recommended golden ladies to read an extra article by Darcy Keith. My niece had the same "From Tragedy to Triumph" experience.

Twenty years ago, on the way home from an outing with her newly wed husband, my niece was pulled out the car when their car hit a truck and got stuck under it. She groaned, "Ouch, it hurts!" Then she lost her consciousness. She went back to work two weeks after a brain surgery. Her brain was damaged. She lost her abilities in speaking, thinking and walking. She seemed to change to another person. A pretty, cleaver, and promising young lady was gone. Eventually she got a layoff and followed by a broken marriage.

For many years she struggled to get out from her pain. With the love and encouragement from her parents, she finally regained a normal life. She married again and has a lovely daughter now. The above two cases teach us one lesson. No matter what happened, we must not lose faith in ourselves, the positive attitude can convert tragedy to triumph. I admire Darcy and my niece for they are great warriors.

Joining the golden ladies' reading group has benefited me a lot. We learn, we laugh, we dance, and we brainstorm together. Their devotion to enrich the life has influenced me. Thank you, golden ladies. By Kate Hsu

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in December

The more we read, the faster we read. From the beginning, it took golden ladies more than two hours to complete reading three assigned articles in a magazine, then one and a half, then one hour. It took them less than 30 minutes to finish reading three articles in November issue this afternoon. I conclude there are three reasons. Golden ladies study the magazine hard at home in advance. Golden ladies synchronize one another in thinking. Golden ladies have something else on their minds.

I invited golden ladies to come visit my secret garden where the camellia was in full blossom on a sunny and warm winter afternoon. As the hostess, I opened the reading gathering by sharing my listening to the interviews of the authors on talkingtoastmasters. I encouraged golden ladies to follow Kristen Johnson's steps to plant a shill in the audience to create a theatrical effect for prepared speeches or party shows. Linda liked Dana LaMon's "Making the Moment Meaningful" particularly. Kate studied beyond three articles and recommended us to read Darcy Keith's "From Tragedy to Triumph". Her niece had the same experience recovering from a severe car accident. Lydia came late, but claimed she had looked up every new word in the magazine in the dictionary. We took turns giving her a vocabulary test and she passed with honor.

At Page 30, the last page of November issue, we saw our flag standing on the stage behind the board of directors in action at the International Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, in August. George Yen looked smart and handsome in green jacket and yellow tie. Golden ladied yelled aloud, "We love you, George!" in unison.

After reading the magazine, we finalized the roles for Hairspray we are about to perform at Division C Christmas Party, Saturday afternoon, the 22nd of December. Each lady has a role and we need to get together more often to rehearse the group dancing. Thanks to Irene for preparing the CDs and lyrics, so that golden ladies can work on their own, shake the body and dub the song in front of the mirror at home. December is a month of synchronization, a month of total presentation, and a month of joy and bliss.

PS:It was the first time golden ladies had the monthly reading gathering photo taken without the magazines in hands.